Carpet mop



May l0, 1960 R. J. ABDo ET AL 2,935,754

CARPET MOP Filed Feb. 21, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 May 10, 1960 R. J. ABDO E1' AL 2,935,754

CARPET MOP Filed Feb. 2'1. 1957 a sheets-sheet 2 United States Patent CARPET MOP Roger J. Abdo, Sherman Galas, Calif., and Bernard L. Colette, Northbrook, lll., assignors to Wade, Wenger 8L Associates, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of illinois Application February 21, 1957, seran No. 641,596 rcnim. (ci. 1s1z4) My invention relates to a combined fountain mop and comb for use particularly in the cleansing and scrubbing of carpets and the application thereto of mothproofing or other liquid material and the combing out of the yarn of which the pile tufts are formed on the wearingsurface of a carpet or of rugs or upholstery material used for the covering of furniture and the like, either before cleaning and scrubbing or after the cleaning is completed.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a brush in which an application of a fluid detergent, fluid soap or a synthetic fluid cleaner can be applied to the surface of carpets or rugs Iwhile the rugs on location upon a floor can be cleaned and the fluid applied to the surface of the pile and evenly distributed thereover and as such application is made, the surface can be scrubbed with the brush being drawn back and forth over the surface of the carpet which exerts a cleaning action upon the carpet pile not only on the top of the pile tufts but also in between the pile tufts effectively softening and removing dirt, and the like, which may be lodged between the pile tufts and upon the wearing surface ofthe pile Aof the carpet.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of an applicator and scrubbing mop-.in which a fluid such as water combined with a surface tension breaking. agent such as a soapy fluid or a synthetic cleaning fluid is applied to the applicator which is in the form of a` sponge in combination with brushes and which through manipulation of the device produces a foaming mixture through the additionof air which is applied to the carpet as a cleaning agent thereby producing a cleaning medium sufficiently wet t-o clean a carpet Without saturation of the pile or the base fabric of the carpet. Y*

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of brush having a fluid applicator between a plurality of rows of brushes so that Vas the mop is man-ipnlated over the surface of a carpet, an application of cleansing fluid is made thereto and the surface scrubbed by the bristles which form a part of the brush and in contact with the surface of the carpet. .Y

Another and further object of my invention isth provision of a brush in which an application of a cleanling fluid to a'carpet surface by an operator while using the brush is made and the surface yof the carpet thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned of particles of dirt, and the like, which can thereafter be mopped up through the use Iof an ordinary cloth mop and any excess cleaning material, dirt, or the like, removed from the surface of the carpet. Another and further object of my invention is the provisionof a fountain mop in which an applicationof a cleaning or:mothproofing.fluid canbe Vapplied to a `carpet or rug with an evenqdistribution of the fluid to the carpet and the cleaning fluid brushed into the carpet whereby the cleaning fluid is brought into contact with the pile yarns as Well as the base fabric at the roots of the pile tufts so that both the quantity of fluid and itsy Idistribution can be controlled in order that the best rewhich the portion of the brush comprising the fluid applicator means and the scrubbing means can be easily removed and cleaned of dirt and the like which may become lodged in it or which can -be easily replaced with a new applicator and brush thereby substantially renewing the brush after the bristles yor fluid applicator becomes worn or broken in service.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of an applicator brush having a comb portion applied thereto which the operator may use by moving the brush handle through an arc of approximately and using the comb portion of the brush for the removal of caked, solid matter which may be lodged between the pile tufts and for straightening out and combing up the pile tufts either while they were still damp from the scrubbing action or after the drying operation is completed so as to bring the crushed nap out into vertical position after the carpet has dried, or the matted pile may be combed out prior to the application of the cleaning fluid to enable the operator to make a better application of the cleaning fluid to the pile tufts and base fabric between the tufts.

Another and further object of Vmy invention is the provision of a pile restorative comb or brush which may be used by an operator to straighten out the pile tufts for the application of the cleaning fluid and for treatment of the pile after the cleaning operation by means of whichcomb the pile can be raised to vertical position and the fibers parallelized without lbreaking the pile yarns and producing a napping effect common with brushes or combs of this type.

These'and other objects of my invention will be better and more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a brush and handle embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the brush and handle securedfthereto;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of that portion of the brush and handle shown in Fig. 2 on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a detailed view partially in section of the handle portion of the mop;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the lower face of the brush frame on lines 5-5 of Fig. 7;

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the upper face of the t brush and mop holding plate on lines 6 6 of Fig. 7; and

Figure 7 is a cross-section partially in elevation on lines 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in which life reference charactersrefer to like parts throughout, a rectangular shaped frame 10 is shown consisting of a front wall 11, a diagonally disposed top wall 12 having a depending flange 13 along one edge and end walls 14 and 15 integrally formed 'with the top wall 12, the front wall 11 and the flange 13, the frame 10 being open at its bottorn. A handle socket 16 is provided which is supportedat one side by a vertical segment i7 integrally formed with the flange 13 with an inwardly stepped portion 18 of the top wall 12 forming the bottom of the socket 16. A tubular handle 19 is provided which is fitted into the socket 16 and which has a closure plug 20 secured to the lower end thereof with an external boss 21 thereon which is fitted into an opening 22 in the stepped portion 18 of the top 12 with an internal trunnion 23 formed on the closure plug 20 having an internal bore 24 therein within which a threaded screw 2S is seated with the plug having b a circumferential recess 26 internally formed therein within which an o center outlet port 27 is provided which has a seal 28 therearound for purposes hereinafter described.

A plurality of strengthening ribs 29, 29 extend transversely of the top wall 12 on the underside thereof with a longitudinal rib 30 thereon having ribs 31 and 32 along each side thereof whereby a channel 33 is provided in the 'ib 30 with curved ribs 31 and 32 having portions 34, 34 extending around trunnions 35, 35 formed on the rib 30 centrally of the channel 33 with the channel 33 dividing and passing around the trunnions 35, 35 with screw open-V ings 36, 36 in the trunnions 355, 35 which also pass through the top Wall 12 of the frame mand terminate in stepped portions 37, 37 in the top wall 12 on the upper side thereof; A passage 38 is provided centrally of the channel 33 and is in normal registry with the port 27 when the handle 19 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The entire' frame 10 is preferably made of molded plastic material integrally formed as a unit.

A rectangular member 39 isprovided which is fitted into the lower open side of the frame 10 between the end 'walls 14 and 1S, the lower edge of the front wall 11 and the flange 13, this member 39 being made of molded plastic material such as a rubber composition and has a channel 40 extending longitudinally thereof and bounded by a continuous wall 41 which wall is curved at 42, 42 around trunnions 43, 43 which are reduced in size at their upper ends and are fitted into enlarged areas 46, 46 around the openings 35 in the top wall member 12 with threaded openings 47 therein within which wing7 screws 48, 48 are threaded which pass through the openingsr36, 36 in the top frame member 12 and securely hold the member 39 in position relative to the frame member 10. A longitudinal channel 49 is provided on the lower side of the member 39 with ports 50, 5G communicating with the channel 49 so that fluid which is received into the channel 40 may pass through the openings G, 50 and into the channel 49 on the lower side of the member 39, into a rectangular 'shaped sponge 51 mounted longitudinally centrally of the 'member 39 in any approved manner. Bristle tufts 52, 52 lare inserted in the member 39 in rows in staggered relation with each other adjacent the sides of the sponge 51 with their free ends extending normally slightly below the lower edge of the sponge 51.

The front wall 11 has a plurality of rows of teeth 53, 53 thereon these teeth being integrally formed of the plastic material o f which the frame is made and are flexible and extend directly out in a straight line from the wall 11, and have their bases S4, 54 slightly larger in cross-section than is the balance of the individual` tooth which tapers towards; the point terminating in a rounded end so thatin use, the teeth being drawn across the pile fabric, will not rotation of the handle 19 which when rotated in a clockwise direction, brings the port 27 and passage 38 into register with each other at the bottom of the socket 16 within which the handle 19 is mounted. If the operator desires to shut off the flow of liquid to the sponge 51, the handle 19 is rotated in a counter-clock-wise direction which moves the port 27 out of register with the passage 38 so that the flow of fluid 4into the sponge is prevented and the seal 28 prevents leakage of the fluid around the opening 27.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the operation of the device will be readily understood in that the handle is filled with a cleansing fluid of some character or description which is preferably capable of being converted to a foamy consistency or a mothproofing compound or other uid, the handle is rotated until the material -ows through the port 27 and passage 38 into the channel 40 into the member 39 where the fluid ows along the channel 40 and through the openings 5t), 50 into the channel 49 on the lower face of the member 39 adjacent the sponge 51 which may be of a synthetic variety or a natural sponge or cloth of some material where the uid is absorbed by the sponge 51 and the operator, by placing the mop over the surface of a carpet and moving it back and forth, causes the fluid to mix with air into a foam through the manipulation of the sponge and the bristles adjacent the sponge which, in turn, forces the foam material over the surface of the pile yarn and into the space between the pile tufts thereby providing enough moisture to wet the surface of the carpet sufficiently to soften dirt, and the like, which may adhere to it but without saturating the pile of the carpet or of the base material. In effect, this material is given little more than a thorough dampening effect which can be easily dried or if the fluid material is at all volatile, evaporates very quickly and rapidly so that a minimum amount of moisture is used in the cleaning of the carpet. Such moisture as remains is easily and quickly removed by further evaporation or by scrubbing the surface of the carpet with a dry cloth or mop, if the surface appears to contain any appreciable amount of moisture during the cleaning operation. In this manner, the cleansing iuid is applied to the carpet in the forrn of foam with a minimum amount of moisture cessively wetted in one spot and not sufficiently saturated break the strands of yarn composing the fabric, but in effect, will pull up the tufts forming the pile and to a certain extentparallelize the fibers composing the pile if the carpet has cut pile and will not engage in the loops of loop-pile fabric so as to cause a napped etiect on a carpet, but -will loosen and re-vitalize the tufts composing the wearing surface of the carpet without damage to them.

The handle 19 is hollow and is adapted to be filled from its upper end over which a flexible cap 55 is tted with a vent 56 in the cap to permit the entrance of air into the hollow handle 19 as the fluid iiows into the brush frame 10 and permits the free flow of the fluid into the sponge 51 as will be hereinafter described. This vent may be valvjed if desired, or a plug may be inserted therein to prevent flow of the iiuid out of the handle if the mop islaid down or placed in an inverted position where the fluid might leak through the vent 56. The handle 19 is rotatively mounted in the socket 16, the socket 16 having in others which would result in an uneven application of the uid to the carpet surface. The sponge also insures that a firm and proper distribution of the uid to the carpet or rug is obtained for cleaning purposes or if an application of other uid material is made to a carpet, 'rug or upholstery of any kind, a complete and even application of such uid is secured. This is most important because 4in the cleaning operation, unequal applicaton of the cleaning uids may produce streaks in a carpet or rug, resulting in an unsatisfactory cleaning operation.

The member 39 can also be removed from the body 10 of the device for purposes of renewal of the sponge 51 or the bristles 52 for cleansing purposes or in case of the bristles and sponge becoming worn, a new unit of the member 39 can be replaced upon the body member 10 without the necessity of destroying the whole unit.

The comb may be used to straighten out and agitate matted portions of the pile prior to the application of uid of any king to the rug or upholstery, or the comb may be turned to operating position quickly during the application of uid to a pile surface tobe cleaned or may be used to parallelize the pile after the cleaning operation.

We have shown somewhat diagrammatically one preferred form of our invention but vit is to be understood that it may be varied to meet differing conditions and requirements and we therefore contemplate such modifications as come Within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A scrubbing brush comprising in combination a hol low casing having an open bottom and having spaced ribs thereon forming an open channel therein and having ilexble spaced teeth on one of its sides adjacent its open bottom, a removable bottom closure member secured to the hollow casing having spaced ribs thereon dening a channel complementary to the channel in the hollow casing, the -ribs on `the hollow casing and the ribs on the bottom member being interiitted together to form a substantially closed distribution manifold, a sponge secured to the said removable bottom member extending substantially throughout the length thereof, the said bottom member having discharge ports from the 'distribution manifold to the said sponge, brush members in each side of the said sponge mounted in the said botsaid distribution manifold and in register with the port in the closed end of the hollow handle when in discharge position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,759 Ingersoll July 1, 1862 219,324 Sunderlin Sept. y2, 1879 995,769 Coleman June 20, 1911 1,169,977 Luchtenberg Feb. 1, 1916 1,375,813 Berger Apr. 26, 1921 1,951,313 Peyser et al. Mar. 13,1934 2,228,213 Hillsberry Ian. 7, 1941 o 2,702,914 Kittle et al. Mar. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Mar. 2, 19956 

